The O’Hare Incident

On November 7, 2006, multiple United Airlines employees at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport observed a dark, disc-shaped object hovering over Gate C17. The object then shot straight up through the clouds, leaving a visible hole. The FAA refused to investigate.

The Airport

O’Hare International is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a major United Airlines hub in Chicago, Illinois. It operates with high security in a professional environment.

The Date

The incident occurred on the afternoon of November 7, 2006, around 4:15 PM. Conditions were overcast with low clouds, and busy flight operations were underway.

The Witnesses

United Airlines employees who witnessed the event included pilots, mechanics, ramp workers, and management personnel. All of them saw the object.

What They Saw

Witnesses described a dark gray, disc-shaped object hovering silently over Gate C17, remaining completely stationary in the air.

The Departure

Most remarkably, the object shot straight up at tremendous speed, punched through the clouds, and left a visible hole in the overcast. Blue sky was visible through the hole it created.

FAA Response

The Federal Aviation Administration declined to investigate the incident, calling it a weather phenomenon. They provided no radar data, conducted no official inquiry, and maintained a dismissive attitude toward the witnesses.

The Chicago Tribune

Reporter Jon Hilkevitch broke the story on the front page on January 1, 2007. His detailed investigation brought the incident international coverage.

Significance

The O’Hare incident is significant for occurring at a major airport location with professional witnesses, producing a physical effect in the form of the cloud hole, involving an FAA refusal to investigate, and receiving extensive media documentation.

Legacy

The O’Hare incident represents one of the most credible modern UFO sightings. Professional aviation employees witnessing an object in one of the world’s busiest airports—followed by official silence—epitomizes the ongoing UFO paradox.